James Hickey: Narraweena tradie caught drink-driving days after Manly Local Court imposed five-year ban

A testy tradie has been busted drunk behind the wheel, having bowled over traffic cones on Sydney’s northern beaches just days after being banned from the roads for five years.

James Hickey outside court on Wednesday. Picture: Manly Daily

A petulant part-time panel beater has narrowly avoided time behind bars despite being busted drunk behind the wheel for the fifth time, just days after losing his licence for five years.

James Hickey, 41, of Narraweena, was most recently nabbed by police on May 30, when he threatened and drove at a traffic controller on the northern beaches.

The alarming incident unfolded moments after Hickey’s Holden Commodore, with a dog in the passenger seat, had bowled over a number of traffic cones on Warringah Rd in Beacon Hill.

When police checked if the tradie had a licence, they discovered that he had been disqualified from driving by Manly Local Court just days earlier.

The court had banned Hickey, who had by then racked up four drink-driving convictions, from the roads until May 2029.

James Hickey, who has now racked up five drink-driving convictions. Picture: Manly Daily

On Wednesday, in the same court, he pleaded guilty to charges of mid-range drink driving, driving while disqualified and resisting police in the execution of their duty.

Magistrate Lisa Stapleton heard the traffic controller had called police to report a man in a Commodore “driving dangerously”.

The controller told officers the man had driven towards them while “making threats” soon after 11.30pm on the day in question.

About 10 minutes later police pulled the Commodore over on Warringah Rd, according to a police facts sheet tendered to court.

Police asked him how much alcohol he had drunk.

“Too much to be driving,” Hickey replied.

Manly Local Court, where James Hickey was sentenced. Picture: Monique Harmer

The court heard that around the time of the most recent offences, Hickey was knocking back as many as eight cans of beer a day.

He told the court he also suffered with painful rheumatoid arthritis.

Hickey had to be handcuffed soon after he was stopped on May 30, having became argumentative with officers who were trying to stop him wandering out onto the road.

He blew 0.105.

Ms Stapleton told Hickey that by running over the traffic cones and threatening the traffic controller, he had proven himself “unfit to be on the road”.

She also described him as “disrespectful” for ignoring the court’s licence disqualification order.

The magistrate ultimately sentenced Hickey to a 12-month intensive correction order, which includes supervision and an alcohol ban.

Hickey, who must complete 150 hours of community service, was also handed another six-month licence disqualification.